Page 10 of Sweet Giant

“I-I can’t become your mate, Mastorr. You should, um, find another woman.” I braced myself, holding my breath as I waited for his reaction. Would my refusal to become his mate fill him with anger? A chill ran down my back. Would he force me?

Sadness flared in his eyes, but only for a second. To my relief, he didn’t explode with rage. He simply stared at me as a look of understanding spread over his handsome features. I exhaled the breath I was holding.

He placed a hand over his heart. “The moment I first saw you, I knew you were meant to be mine, and likewise, that I was meant to be yours. It’s the calling. I feelcalledto mate with you, Liv. An intense desire to protect you, care for you, and do everything in my power to ensure your happiness. I don’t want to find another woman. I want you. Only you.”

Despite myself, his words resonated in a part of my heart I’d thought long dead. A place inside me that I’d kept closed up, a place that was usually cold and unfeeling that suddenly grew warm.

“I’ve never heard of the calling,” I said, “and until today, I didn’t even know Sasquatches were real. Look, Mastorr, humans don’t experience the calling. We don’t have fated mates. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to find someone else.” I didn’t bother telling him I was only half-human. What did it matter? I wasn’t the female with whom he was meant to mate. I couldn’t be.

I was meant to be alone. That was what I wanted. Time and space to heal. Time to replenish both my emotional and physical strength.

Being used by Mountain night after night in our makeshift hospital had taken nearly everything from me. It had left me shattered, and now I needed to be alone so I could reassemble all my broken pieces. If that were possible.

I prayed it was. I prayed that one day I would feel somewhat normal again. Somewhat whole. Recovered enough that I might even be able to use my healing gifts once more—but only on my terms.

Only if it were safe and I didn’t run the risk of being exploited by a government agency, or worse—another asshole like Mountain.

Oh how I longed to return to the woman I was before meeting Mountain and falling under his spell.

“It is all right that you don’t feel called to mate with me, Liv.” Mastorr displayed a gentle smile that wrenched at my heart. Why did he have to radiate pure sweetness? Why did he have to be so handsome?

Mountain could be overly charming when he wanted to, and the affectionate smiles he’d once given me (during the start of our relationship, anyway) had quickly won me over. And while I was embarrassed to admit it, his good looks had certainly helped too.

But no matter how seemingly nice or handsome, I couldn’t allow myself to trust Mastorr.

I couldn’t trust anyone. Not ever again. It wasn’t worth the risk.

“Good,” I finally said, hoping this was the end of our weird conversation about mating. Were humans and Sasquatches even sexually compatible? Or, in my case, half-human?Doesn’t matter. I’m not going to find out.I nodded toward the door. “I suppose you ought to get going then. It’s getting dark and you should probably, uh, go home.”

Where was his home? Did he live in a cavern like the clerk had mentioned? Or was he one of the Sasquatches who liked sleeping out in the open forest in a huge nest?

“I’m not leaving.” His eyes glowed brighter. “Just because you don’t feel called to mate with me does not mean we aren’t fated to spend our lives together. Most females among my people don’t experience the calling, it’s usually only the males who do. Once a male feels called to a particular female, he starts courting her. That is what I plan to do with you, sweet Liv. I will court you. I will spend time with you, bring you presents, and keep you safe. I am confident that you will eventually come to realize we are destined to become mates. It is only a matter of time, though I promise I will be patient and I will not force you.”

“You won’t force me to…matewith you?” I whispered the wordmateas if it were the most scandalous word in existence. To my mortification, my face grew warm.

Blushing. I was blushing in front of the huge, sexy Sasquatch.

Did he understand what that meant? Would he realize how attractive I found him?

Yes, I still feared him, and I absolutely had no intention of allowing myself to fall for his sweet words or actions. He could diligently court me for a full decade, and it wouldn’t make a difference. I couldn’t allow myself to trust another man ever again. Trusting others, especially men, was far too risky. I was better off alone. No more boyfriends, and no more husbands. If I became lonely, I could always adopt a couple of cats.

“I could not fathom forcing you, sweet one. I would never want to scare you or hurt you. I promise I will wait until you take up the mating position and offer yourself to me for claiming.” A dreamy look crossed his face.

“The mating position?” I blurted only to immediately wish I could retract my words. My face heated further.

“Yes,” he replied with a nod. “The position a female assumes when she wants to be claimed for all time. When she turns on all fours and offers the use of her mating hole to the male who’s been courting her.”

I covered my mouth as a brief but vigorous coughing fit took hold. Keeping the blanket pulled to my neck, I sat up on the couch and tried to put some space between us.Mating hole. God help me.

But I soon latched on to something else he’d just said. Something that scared me to my core. “What do you mean by ‘for all time?’”

“For eternity. We’ll be together in this life, and once our time in this world runs out, we’ll reunite in the Afterland.” His eyes danced with joy. “I am thankful to the Great Spirit that I finally found you, Liv. I have been alone for so long that I’d started to fear I would never meet my fated mate. But now here you are. A gift from the Great Spirit. The greatest gift I might ever receive, and one I will never cease being grateful for. I will cherish you forever.”

Chapter8

MASTORR

At Liv’s side,I felt at home. At peace. My soul was no longer lonely, my spirit no longer restless.

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